Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Lately, people have been asking me how I’ve become so okay with how my life currently is. I
think they mean to ask ‘how have you been
able to accept your stoma so well?’ because it’s only been a little over
six months since my operation.

I think it’s down to three things, really:

1.I have lived with a chronic illness for five
years. I’ve had all that time to build up my own way to accept whatever
circumstances have been thrown my way; both with my health and a result of my
health. So, I learnt a while back to ‘roll
with the punches’ and to ‘see the
positive side’ – because there is always one, you just have to be willing
to see and find it – through having had counselling sessions. From these, I
found out a lot about myself but also discovered new methods to help me cope.

2.At my first surgical consult in January 2016, my
surgeon explained that my Right Hemicolectomy could result in a temporary stoma – about a 5% chance. I decided I
had to get my head around that, so feeling okay about maybe having one and preparing myself for one, was helpful when I
finally did get my ostomy; I just didn’t realise it would be so soon.

3.I have a curious mind. I am fascinated by how
the body works – more so now that I have an illness – so having my insides come
outside of me, I think, is quite cool. And I just see it as another quirk of
mine – I have a bag of poo on my belly!

In addition to that, my ability to see the funny side; being
able to laugh and joke about it, just makes it more normal to me and everyone I
interact with. I wouldn’t be without my support system of family, friends and
medical professionals who have guided me through recovering from major surgery
and living with an ostomy.

So, now that my
acceptance is here to stay, what do I intend to do with it?

Well, I hope that by me being ‘okay’ with my ostomy, will
make it okay for others to think it’s okay too. The raising of awareness; of
letting people know that this is not a bad thing that has happened to me, it is
something I have had a choice in -something I am proud of having - is something I am happy to partake it.
And so far, it’s led to some very cool and exciting opportunities and I have
been able to connect with even become friends with some great people.

Part of raising ostomy awareness is to help non-ostomates is
to see an ostomy as ‘normal’ and acceptable. It is not something for an
ostomate to be ashamed of. And it certainly isn’t something to used as an
insult or as a derogatory term. Ostomies come in lots of forms and for many
reasons, to many different types of people. There should not be a judgement
here.

Let’s break down the
walls and start small.

If you are curious about an ostomy – my ostomy, let say –
then ask. I am happy to answer questions and queries.

You can follow my adventures with a chronic illness – and my
new life with an ostomy – at www.youngcrohns.co.uk